NORTHUMBRIA Police have issued more than 200 fines to the public over the past three months for breaches of government public health regulations.

Data relased on Friday by the National Police Chief's Council revealed Northumbria Police have handed out 206 fines between March 27 and May 11. 

The force handed out 150 fines to members of the public from March 27 to April 27. 

A further 168 were issued between April 27 and May 11. 

Nationally, 13,445 Fixed Penalty Notices have been recorded by police forces in England. 

For those who breach lockdown regulation for the first time, fines recently increased to £100 from £60. 

Payment of the fixed penalty notice within 14 days will reduce the sum to £50, which is up £20 from the previous £30 charge.

However, the maximum for repeat offenders is now £3,200.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on May 10: “You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.”

The National Police Chiefs' Council Chair Martin Hewitt said: “The vast majority of people continue to do the right thing, which protects the NHS and helps save lives.

“The figures show our approach is proportionate with just 0.02 per cent of the population in England and Wales being issued with a fine.

“I want to thank people for continuing to follow the regulations – I recognise it’s not easy and that this is a challenging time for us all. Our approach of – engage, explain and encourage, and only as a last resort, enforce – will continue.

"It is working across the UK. I urge the public to keep going, keep following the advice."